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An investigation into the incident found that delaying the operation was the wrong decision.

This delay not only postpones any resolution that we were hoping for but also significantly prolongs our suffering

Jamie King

Coroner Maria Voisin suddenly halted the inquest after two days after being told how lawyers for NHS trust involved allegedly removed crucial evidence by a midwife.

Miss Voisin, the Coroner for Avon, said she was considering referring the case to the Crown Prosecution Service.

After the case was adjourned Mr King, 35, who played poet Thomas Wyatt in the TV series The Tudors, said he was "horrified" by the allegations of tampering.

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The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust may have perverted the course of justice

He also accused the NHS of a "blatant disregard for the truth", adding: "This delay not only postpones any resolution that we were hoping for but also significantly prolongs our suffering.

"Also, this blatant disregard for the truth is in complete opposition to the NHS's Safer Maternity Care Action Plan which encourages lessons to be learned from mistakes and shared openly and transparently across the NHS."

The inquest at Flax Bourton, Bristol, heard that Miss Podemski’s pregnancy was “high risk” and she was rushed to the RUH after a community nurse spotted an abnormality on a scan.

Doctors told her they could not perform a caesarean for six hours because she had been given a hospital meal which needed to be digested.

An hour before the planned operation another emergency case was given priority and theKings were told she would have the op first thing in the morning.

But her c-section was mistakenly downgraded from a category 3 to 4 and she was sent home to Frome, Somerset, that evening at 10.30pm.

Hours later Miss Podemski woke at 2am with pains in her stomach and again at 5am and was rushed to the RUH by ambulance.

Her baby was born but quickly transferred to a specialist unit at St. Michael's Hospital in Bristol.

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Coroner Maria Voisin suddenly halted the inquest after two days

Doctors there told his parents the baby had insufficient oxygen for around two hours after the placenta failed.

The heartbroken couple decided to turn off his life support machine on May 10 after being told he would probably grow up with severe disabilities, epilepsy and have a small head.

The inquest heard how Eileen Dack, the labour ward coordinator, had questioned why the caesarean was delayed.

She recalled a conversation with the on duty registrar who had felt it should have gone ahead as planned.

When asked under oath why there was no documentation of the conversation she told the coroner it was "removed from my statement" by the trust's legal team.

Coroner Miss Voisin said the alleged removal of evidence by a solicitor on behalf of the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust was a "very serious matter indeed" and may amount to perverting the course of justice.

Mr King attended the inquest without his wife as she remained at home with their other child.

In a statement on behalf of both of them after the adjournment, he said: "Due to a poorly judged decision to postpone his C-section, Benjamin was delivered in an emergency procedure, and suffered severe brain damage as a result.

"He tragically died at five days old.

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Royal United Hospital in Bath

"Unfortunately, through the process of this inquest, we have also learned about the darker, behind the scenes decisions that have been made.

"Decisions that threaten the good work of honest health care professionals, as well as the safety of their patients.

"We were horrified to hear evidence that a statement had been altered by the legal team representing the RUH.

"As a result of this, the coroner, who stated that she considers this is a very serious matter, has been forced to adjourn the inquest to allow for an investigation to take place."

He continued: "At a time when the UK has one of the highest stillbirth rates in Europe, we must create an environment where all medical practitioners feel safe to be honest about their mistakes so we can all hear from them.

"The inquest and the internal investigations that will be taking place are a tremendous opportunity for growth and change. And we cannot waste them.

"In his short life our son Benjamin has had a profound effect on our family.

"He's taught us the true meaning of love, he asked us to be most courageous, resilient and forgiving versions of ourselves."

Mr King appeared in Mad Men in 2009 and has also been in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Mr Turner.